Page 116 of Saints & Sailors

His words felt too good to be true, but they soothed my heart all the same.

“I…I don’t know what to say.”

Dreux bore a loose grin. “Cheap Trick.”

I didn’t get it. “What about them?”

“ ‘I Want You to Want Me,’ ” he said, naming their hit song and doing a silly little sway.

Leave it to Dreux to use classic rock to woo me.

It worked like a charm as I came up off the step and met him half way on the front walk. Dreux took my face into his hands, tilting my head back until I could see only him.

“Say you want me, too,” he begged.

“I do,” I admitted. “You disarm me and I hate it.”

“Why?”

Because I didn’t want to let down my walls and be completely vulnerable.

“You scared of me?” Dreux asked, his eyes softening.

I nodded, unable to pretend the idea of going all in didn’t frighten me.

“It’s okay, I got you,” he assured, pressing his forehead to mine. “You, me, we’re not our parents. We’re going to be us, and whatever that is, is entirely up to you and me.”

The uncertainty was terrifying, but Dreux had never let me down.

He wanted me. He was choosing me. And it was all I could ever ask for.

“I want this too,” I breathed out.

His lips met mine and I closed my eyes and slipped away.

My mother took me to school Friday, and as school let out, she was there to pick me up.

Dreux was holding my hand as he walked me out front where my mother was waiting at the curb against her Jetta.

“Gross!” Cameron pretended to scowl and groan as she caught us on her way to cheerleading practice.

Debriefing her and Vanity had been almost painful. Neither were in shock about the status of Dreux and me, with Vanity boldly snorting and going, “About time you woke up.”

Even Bonham had held a knowing smirk when I let him know.

“The guy’s been about to rip Lane’s head off for weeks,” he’d joked.

I guess it was obvious to everyone but me.

“Hello,” Dreux greeted my mother as he and I came to a stop in front of her.

My mother studied the two of us and where our hands were intertwined. Her brows raised. “Well, hello.”

“Mom, you remember Dreux?” I said as I gestured to him.

Dreux, being polite, shook hands with my mother. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

My mother shot me an impressed look as she shook Dreux’s hand. “Nice to meet you as well. Please, call me Madeline.”